Operating mechanism for filling valves



Oct. 30, 1956 R. K. GALLOWAY 2,768,658

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FILLING VALVES Filed Feb. 15, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR ROBERT K. GALLOWQY ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1956 R. K. GALLOWAY 3 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FILLING VALVES Filed Feb. 15, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 INVENTOR ROBERT x. GALLOWAY ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Shut INVENTOR ROBERT K. GALLOWAY BY #1 WW ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1956 R. K. GALLOWAY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FILLING vm vas 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15

INVENTOR ROBERT K. GALLOWAY ATTORNEY United States Patent OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FILLING VALVES Robert K. Galloway, Hoopeston, Ill., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,201

15 Claims. (Cl. 141142) This invention relates, in general, to container filling machines, and more particularly to filling valves employed by the same for dispensing material to each container of a continuous procession thereof handled by these machines.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism for the filling valves of a container filling machine.

Another object is to provide an improved filling valve operating mechanism adapted for use in a can filling machine of the type commonly employed in the food preservation industry to deliver measured quantities of brine or syrup into each can of an endless procession thereof.

Another object is the provision of an improved mechanism for effecting accurately timed operation of each valve of a continuously operating multiple valve can filling machine.

Another object is to provide operating mechanism for a continuous procession of valves arranged to be opened successively to deliver material to containers, but dependent in its operation of opening any of the valves upon the presence of a container in receiving position with relation thereto.

Another object is to provide power operated means for actuating a valve operator, and, in operative association therewith, mechanism for controlling the power means in response to movement of a container toward a position wherein it is adapted to receive material from the valve.

Another object is to provide a valve actuator controlled by and actuated in response to forces of relatively small magnitude, and yet capable of exerting ample force to assure positive operation of the valve actuator under even adverse conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve operating mechanism of the type referred to that combines simplicity of construction with dependability of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a container filiing machine provided with the valve actuating mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the container filling machine and the valve actuating mechanism of Fig. I viewed from a different position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the valve actuating mechanism in a different operational position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the valve actuating mechanism taken along lines 44 of Fig. 2, a portion being broken away, with certain parts in different positions.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of the cam and its mounting bracket of the valve actuating mechanism of the invention, parts being shown displaced from their operative positions to reveal constructional detail.

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective showing the operative 2,768,658 Patented Oct. 30, 1956 parts of the valve actuating mechanism in idle position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the operative parts of the mechanism moved to valve actuating position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the detector plate of the mechanism of the invention, in operative association with cans to be filled by the machine.

The valve operating mechanism of this invention is illustrated in the drawings operatively installed in a rotary can filling machine 10 (Figs. 1 to 3) of the type as shown in application Serial No. 197,097, filed November 20, 1949, by Charles E. Kerr. The valve operator, indicated at 11, is designed and arranged to successively effect opening of the valves 12 of the filling machine 10, causing the valves 12 to discharge material into cans 13 at the proper time during the operating cycle of each valve. The valves 12 are supported from and extend through the bottom of a tank 14, within which is contained a supply of liquid to be dispensed, such as syrup or brine. The cans 13 are advanced in a continuous procession in such a manner that each can remains in receiving position below one of the valves 12 throughout the discharge period thereof, upon completion of which the valve is closed and placed in readiness for a subsequent operational cycle, and the filled can is removed from the machine. The valves 12 are arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the vertical axis about which the tank 14 and the valves 12 rotate continuously.

The valve operating mechanism of the invention is effective as a no can-no fill device, inasmuch as it automatically assumes an inoperative, or disabled position wherein it fails to act upon the valve above any unoccupied can filling station. The valve operator 11 remains in such inactive arrangement until the supply of cans to be filled is resumed, and a detector plate is encountered by .the leading can of the new supply and is moved thereby, operating the control of a power operated device which is thus activated to re-set the valve operating mechanism to its operative position.

Each of the valves 12, which conveniently may be designed and constructed in accordance with the disclosure in my copending application Serial No. 384,050, filed October 5, 1953, automatically measures and segregates from the liquid in the tank 14, the exact quantity of liquid to be dispensed. The valve retains the measured quantity of liquid until a plunger 16 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) is moved within its housing 17 from an upper, valve closing position to a lower position wherein the measured quantity of liquid is released to flow through an outlet opening 18 (Fig. 4) in the bottom of the valve 12 into a can 13 disposed in receiving position therebelow.

The cans 13 are progressed by a. conveyor 19 (Fig. 4) in an arcuate path concentric with and below the bottom of the tank 14 through the machine, and the parts are so correlated that each can moves in conformity with, and remains in vertical alignment with, one of the valves 12 for a period at least corresponding to the discharging stage of the valves operating cycle. Can receiving pockets 20, each adapted to receive one can 13 and to hold it in aligned relation with one of the valves 12, are defined on the conveyor 19 by propeller fingers 21 and centering fingers 21 extending over the conveyor 19 radially from a cylindrical wall 22 which extends downward from and rotates with the tank bottom from which the valves 12 are supported.

Each of the valve plungers 16 is provided with a pin 23 rigid therewith and extending through a vertical slot 24 in a side of the housing 17 of the valve. A roller 25 is rotatably mounted on the pin 23. This pin and roller assembly constitutes an abutment or cam follower 26 secured to the plunger 16, and any vertical movement of the cam follower 26 produces corresponding movement of the plunger 16 with relation to its housing 17.

The valve operating mechanism 11 of the present invention operates to lower the pin and roller assembly 26 of each valve 12 and thereby effect lowering of the plunger 16 of the same to its valve opening position, at the proper time within the valves operational cycle, to cause the valve to release to the can therebelow the measured quantity of liquid previously segregated by the valve from the supply of liquid within the tank 14.

The valve operating mechanism 11 of the invention is mounted in operative relation to the filling machine 10 whose dispensing valves 12 it is to open, by means of an adapter 31 comprising two parallel tubular sleeves 32 and 33 integrally interconnected by a web 34 (Figs. 2 and 3). The sleeve 32 fits one of the support columns 36 of the filling machine 10, to which the sleeve 32 is rigidly anchored in selected position of both vertical and rotational adjustment by set screws, one of which is shown at 37. The sleeve 33 is bored to receive a post 38 (Fig. 1) which is rigidly anchored therein by set screws 39. Hence, the adapter provides rigid but adjustable support for the post 38 in a vertical position spaced outward from the bed 40 of the filling machine 10.

A clamping sleeve 41 is secured in selected position of vertical adjustment on the upper portion of the post 38 by clamping screws 42 extending between lugs 43 on opposite sides of a longitudinal slot 44 in one side of the sleeve. A feather key 46 prevents the sleeve 41 from rotating on the post 38 but permits vertical adjustment of the sleeve on the post when the screws 42 are loosened. Integrally formed with the sleeve 41 is a housing 47 in the form of a clamp within which the hub 48 of a bracket 49 (Fig. is seated with the axis of the hub horizontal. The hub 48 is of circular cross section and consequently the bracket 49 can be rotationally adjusted about a hori zontal axis if the circumstances of any particular installation so require. Such adjustability of the hub within the housing permits disposing a shelf 51 integral with the hub at the inner end thereof, in a plane parallel to the bottom of the tank 14. A clamping screw 52 affords means for tightening the clamp housing 47 upon the hub 48 to secure the bracket 49 with its shelf 51 in selected position of rotational adjustment; and by loosening the clamping screws 42 of the sleeve 41, the entire unit can be adjusted vertically to position the shelf 51 closely adjacent, but with suitable operational clearance from, the bottom of the tank 14 (Figs. 2 and 3).

A rock shaft 56 (Figs. 4 and 5) is rotatably seated in an axial bore 57 of the hub 48. The inner end of the rock shaft 56 carries a cam 58 rigidly secured to the shaft 56 by welding 59, in such position that the lower surface 61 of the cam 58 extends tangentially from the lower side of the rock shaft 56 in the direction in which the valves 12 of the filling machine move past the valve operating unit 11 during practical operation of the apparatus. The under surface 62 of the shelf 51 (Fig. 5) is at an elevation above the level of the lower side of the shaft 56 a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cam 58, thus permitting the cam to be rotated upward about the axis of the shaft 56 to a horizontal position before engaging the shelf 51. However, the shelf 51 includes a relatively thick arcuate arm 63 extending from the shaft 56 in the direction opposite that in which the cam 61 extends. Instead of being of uniform thickness throughout its length, the arm 63 tapers from its thicker inner end 64 to its thinner outer end 65, so that the under surface 66 of the arm inclines downward at a small angle with respect to the surface 62, where the under surface 66 of the arm 63 is substantially tangent to the shaft 56, and consequently merges with the under surface 61 of the cam 58. The under surface 66 of the arm terminates at its outer end in a more steeply inclined face 66' sloping upward to the end of the arm.

The overall thickness of the shelf 51 and cam 58 is such as to permit the inner edge of the shelf 51 and the cam 58 to occupy a position between the bottom of the tank 14 and the path along which the cam followers 26 normally advance when their respective valves are closed, provided the cam 58 is in its upper, inactive position as illustrated in Fig. 2. Occasionally, however, a cam follower 26 may approach the mechanism 11 in an abnormally high position, explained by the fact that upon completion of a filling cycle by any of the valves 12 it is closed by impingement of its cam follower 26 against a closing cam (not shown) along which the follower rides upward to move the follower to its valve closing position; and since the filling machine 10 is designed for sustained high speed operation, there is some possibility that occasionally one of the cam followers will, under influence of its own inertia after leaving the closing cam, move to a position somewhat higher than its normal valve closing position. It is the function of the gradually inclined lower surface 66 of the arm 63 and the more steeply chamfered outer end 66' to lower any such excessively raised cam follower to proper position to subsequently engage the cam 58 and thus avoid damage to the apparatus.

It should be borne in mind that Fig. 5 illustrates the shaft 56 laterally displaced from it operational position with relation to the bracket 49. When fully assembled, the shaft 56 occupies a position in which the cam 58 is aligned with the arm 63 and the under surface 61 of the cam constitutes a continuation of the under surface of the arm. A pin 69 rigid with and extending downward from the shelf 51 of the bracket 49 presents an abutment against which the outer side face of the cam makes sliding engagement, thus preventing further outward axial movement of the shaft with relation to the bracket 49. Inward axial displacement of the shaft 56 from its operative position is prevented by an adjustable crank assembly 70 affixed to the outer end of the haft 56.

The crank assembly 70 comprises a crank strap 71 extending radially from the rock shaft 56 to which it is secured for rotary motion therewith by being seated within a diametric slot 72 in the outer end of the shaft. A cap screw 73 retains the strap 71 within the slot 72. A link 74, rotatably mounted at its inner end on the shaft 56, extends radially from the shaft 56 in close adjacency to the strap 71, the outer end of which is disposed between two opposed lugs 75 which are rigid with the link and are separated by a distance somewhat greater than the width of the portion of the crank strap which extends between them. A stud 76, each provided with a lock nut 77, is threaded through each of the lugs and is adjustable toward and away from the strap 71.

A crank pin 81 extends through a hole (not shown) through the link 74 adjacent the outer end thereof, this hole being enlarged in a direction radial of the shaft 56 sufliciently to prevent binding of the pin therein as a consequence of its serving as a crank pivotally connecting the link 74 to a clevis 82 reciprocable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the link. The clevis 82 is affixed to the end of a piston rod 83, the piston head 84 of which (illustrated schematically in Figs. 6 and 7) is reciprocable within a pneumatic cylinder 85 comprising a tubular body portion 86 rigidly assembled between upper and lower cylinder heads 37 and 88, respectively. The cylinder assembly 85 is rigidly supported from the bracket 49 by a flanged extension 89, the upper end 89' of which loosely encircles the shaft 56 between the crank assembly 70 and the hub 48 of the bracket 49. The extension 89 is secured to the hub 48 by screws 90, whose heads are seated Within counterbored recesses 90' (Fig. 4) in the outer face of the upper end 89 of the cylindersupporting extension 89. A boss 74' on the inner face of the link 74 clears the heads of the screws 90, and bears against the upper end 89' of the extension 89.

Air under suitable pressure from any suitable source (not shown) is supplied to the cylinder 85 selectively of either side of the piston head 84 by a supply pipe 91 communicating with the cylinder through a diverter valve 92, the housing 93 of which is preferably formed integrally with the lower cylinder head 86 and the structural features of which are illustrated schematically in Figs. 6 and 7. A rod 95 having three spaced heads 96, 97 and 98 rigid therewith is axially reciprocable within the bore or valve chamber 94 of the valve housing 93. Each of the three heads is fitted to the chamber 94 in sliding, fluid sealing engagement therewith. The air supply pipe communicates with the chamber 94 through a supply port 99 at a location intermediate the ends thereof, and two ducts 100 and 101 lead from the chamber at locations equally spaced on opposite sides of the vertical plane extending transversely of the cylinder 85 and including the axis of the supply port 99. The duct 100 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 85 below the piston head 84, while the duct 101 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 85 above the piston head. Exhaust ports 102 and 103 lead from the valve chamber at locations equally spaced on opposite sides of the plane of the axis of the inlet port 99 at greater distances than those of the ducts 100 and 101 from the said plane.

A coil spring 104 under compression between the outer valve head 96 and the outer end 105 of the valve chamber 94, urges the valve rod 95 and the heads 96, 97 and 98 thereon inward toward the filling machine 10, i. e., toward the right in Fig. 7, carrying with it a handle 106 operatively connected to the inner end of the valve rod 95 (Figs. 2 and 3). The upper end of the handle 106 is thus caused to bear against the outer face of a vertical flange 107 of a bracket 108 having a vertical hearing 109 at one end thereof pivotally mounted on a vertical portion 110 of a stud 111 rigid with the bed 40 of the filling machine 10. A collar 113 releasably fastened to the stud 111 by a set screw 114 supports the bearing 109 and bracket 108 at that elevation which causes a detector plate 115 carried by the bracket 108 to occupy a plane but a short distance above the bottoms of cans 13 supported on the conveyor.

The detector plate is adjustably but rigidly secured to the bracket 108 by cap screws 116, and in such relation to the bracket that it constitutes an extension of the same. The inner edge 117 (Fig. 4) of the detector plate is arcuate in general conformity with the path of the cans 13 on the conveyor 19; while the end edge 118 is oblique to the path of the cans, sloping inward toward the filling machine in the direction of can movement past the detector plate. Under the urgency of the spring 104, the handle 106 is pressed against the flange 107, thereby continuously urging the detector plate 115 to rotate about its pivot 110 to a position wherein the distal edge 118 of the plate 115 intersects the path of the cans. Accordingly, the first can of a series of cans 13 advancing on the conveyor 19 will encounter the sloping edge 118 and, as a consequence of the resultant wedging action, thrust the detector plate 115 aside in outward movement about its pivotal mounting 110.

The distance that the detector plate 115 can move inward in the absence of any can 13 from the contiguous portion of the conveyor 19 is determined by adjustment of a stop screw 121 threaded through the flange 107 in position for its inner end to engage a rigid portion 122 of the frame of the filling machine. A lock nut 123 releasably retains the stop screw 121 in selected position of adjustment.

The arcuatc inner edge 117 of the detector plate 115 is extended to a length a least as great as the center-to center distance of two cans in adjacent pockets 20 on the conveyor 19, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8, with the result that so long as the supply of cans 13 to the filling machine is uninterrupted and none of the pockets 20 fails to receive a can, the detector plate 115 will be retained in its outer position and the cam 58 will remain in lowered, operative position. In this manner, the machine is caused to operate more quietly and smoothly and the parts are subjected to less wear than would be the case if the edge 117 of the plate 115 were so short that the plate might move into or partly into the space between two successive cans 13 of an uninterrupted procession of the same. Moreover, the detector plate 115 conveniently can be constructed of a suitable semi-yieldable material such as hard rubber so as to cushion the impact of cans thereagainst and contribute toward quiet operation of the apparatus.

In practical operation, cans 13 to be filled are suplied to the filling machine 10 in a continuous procession so that each of the pockets 20 of the conveyor 19 contains one can above which one of the filling valves 12 remains for a period commencing before the valve is opened and of sufiicient duration to permit the valve to be completely emptied before the can is withdrawn from the pocket 20. As mentioned hcreinabove, the tank 14 rotates continuously, carrying with it the valves 12 and the conveyor 19 therebelow. Hence, the cans 13 approach the valve operating mechanism 11 in rapid succession, each can having a closed filling valve 12 immediately thereabove with the cam follower 26 of the valve in raised position. As the first can 13 of a series of such cans approaches the valve operating mechanism 11, it encounters the oblique edge 118 of the detector plate 115, and upon continued advance, the can wedges the detector plate 115 outward about its pivotal mounting 110 from the position thereof indicated in Fig. 6 to its Fig. 7 position. This outward motion is transmitted through the handle 106 to the rod of the diverter valve 92, shifting the valve heads 96, 97 and 98 to those positions wherein communication is established between the supply port 99 and the duct 101 which leads to the top of the cylinder 85, and also establishing communication between the exhaust port 102 and the duct which leads from the bottom of the cylinder 85. Air under pressure is thus supplied to the top of the cylinder 85, moving the piston head 84 downward while the air entrapped below the head 84 is permitted to escape to the atmosphere. Such downward motion of the piston 84 imparts rotary motion to the shaft 5-6 through the crank assembly 70, thereby turning the cam 58 from its upper, inoperative position (Figs. 2 and 6) to its downwardly inclined, operative position (Figs. 3 and '7) wherein it intersects the path of the cam followers 26.

Immediately thereafter the can whose impingement against the detector plate has thus effected operation of the diverter valve 92, moves on into a position wherein the cam follower 26 of the valve 12 immediately above that can 13 encounters the cam 58. Continued advance of the valve causes the cam follower 26 to be cammed downward, carrying with it the plunger 16 of the valve and thus opening the valve and permitting the fiuid previously segregated from the contents of the tank 14, to gravitate to the can 13 as the valve 12 and can 13 continue their travel past the valve operating mechanism 11 toward the station (not shown) where the filled cans are removed from the filling machine. After leaving the cam 58 the follower 26 and valve plunger 16 remain in their lower position until further advance of the valve 12 carries the same into operative association with the closing cam (not shown) to recondition the valve for a subsequent cycle by raising its follower 26 and plunger 16 to their upper position.

So long as the supply of empty cans 13 to the filling machine 10 is maintained, the detector plate 115 remains in its outermost position and the diverter valve 92 remains in the position wherein it is illustrated in Fig. 7, owing to the extended length of its inner, can engaging edge 117. l'lowever, when an interruption in the supply of empty cans to the filling machine occurs one of the pockets 20 of the conveyor 19 shortly thereafter arrives in the area of the valve operating mechanism without a can 13 therein. The detector plate 115 is thus permitted to swing inward under the urgency of the spring 104 and the diverter valve 92 is actuated to the Fig. 6 position,

wherein communication is established between the upper cylinder duct 101 and the outlet port 103 and between the inlet port 99 and the lower cylinder duct 100. Consequently air under pressure is supplied to the bottom of the cylinder 85, the piston head 84 is forced upward, and the shaft 56 is rotated to carry the cam 58 upward to its horizontal, inoperative position (Fig. 6) wherein it is withdrawn from the path of the cam followers 26 as they approach. Therefore, the valve 12 above the unoccupied pocket 20 will remain closed.

The cam 58 remains in this raised, inoperative p c-s until supply of empty cans to the filling machine is resumed. The tank 14, therefore, may be permitted to continue to rotate, since the valves 12 will continue to move past the valve actuating mechanism 11 without being opened, until the supply of empty cans to the apparatus is resumed. The first can 13 of the new supply will encounter the detector plate 115 in the manner hcreinabove described and thus effect replacement of the cam 58 to its operating position causing the same to resume its action of successively opening the valves 12 as they move therepast.

The exact position of the cam 58 when the same is in its operating position is a matter of some importance. If the cam 58 reaches too low a position the valves 12 will be opened too far, and the fluid dispensed thereby will gravitate therefrom at such a rapid rate that splashing and spilling of the same is apt to occur. On the other hand, if the cam 53 is not lowered far enough, the valves will not be opened widely enough, and the period of discharge of each valve is apt to be too prolonged to ensure discharge of the entire quantity of liquid stored by each valve, before the can in receiving position below the same is removed from the filling machine. Adjustment of the crank assembly 70 may be had by appropriate adjustment or the studs 76, to assure that lowering the piston 84 results in positioning the cam 58 with its trailing, lower edge at just the right elevation to attain proper opening of each valve 12 and thereby assure optimum rate of fluid discharge consonant with the speed at which the filling machine is operated.

Since the only work performed by the detector plate 115 is to actuate the control for admitting air under pressure to the cylinder 86, relatively little force need be exerted by a can against the detector plate to cause the latter to swing outward. Nevertheless, the force imposed upon the cam 53 to move it from either of its positions to the other, can most conveniently be of any desired magnitude to assure immediate response and complete action inasmuch as the air supplied to the cylinder 86 may be at any suitable pressure and the piston and cylinder assembly 84, 85 may be of any desired dimensions. This insures satisfactory operation of the cam in spite of the fact that there is no need for a can to exert a force of more than relatively small magnitude against the detector plate to cause complete operation of the control valve 92, thus minimizing danger of dislodging even relatively small and light empty cans 13 from their positions of accurate alignment with their respectively associated valves 12. Moreover, since full air pressure continues to be imposed upon the piston after arrival of the same at either end of its stroke, the valve operating mechanism 11 of the invention assures positive retention of the cam 58 in whichever of its two extreme positions it is placed following any actuation of the diverter valve 92 as a consequence of movement of the detector plate 115. Consequently, the valve operating mechanism 11 prevents the partial filling of the cans 13 which would result from accidental, incomplete displacement of the cam 58 from its lower, operating position; and the mechanism 11 likewise prevents the flow or drip from the valves 12 which would be caused by accidental displacement of the cam 58 from its upper, non-operating position while no cans 13 are present on the conveyor 19 below the valves 12.

While I have shown my invention with the aid of a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the specific constructional details shown and described, which may be departed from without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Operating mechanism for a filling valve of a container filling machine including means defining a filling station for retaining a container in fluid receiving relation with the valve and means for moving a container into the filling station, said mechanism comprising a movable container detector mounted adjacent the filling machine and resiliently urged into the path of a container approaching the filling station, means movably mounted adjacent the filling machine in cooperative association with the valve to effect opening the same, fluid operated means for moving said valve opening means, means for supplying fiuid under pressure to said fluid operated means, control means for said fluid supplying means, and means operatively connecting said detector to said control means.

2. Operating mechanism for a filling valve of a container filling machine having a filling station for locating a container in receiving relation with the valve and means for moving a container to be filled into the filling station, said mechanism comprising a movable cam follower constructed and arranged to open the valve when displaced from a valve closing position, support means mounted adjacent said filling machine for relative movement with respect to said cam follower in a direction angular with relation to the direction of displacement of said cam follower, a cam supported from said support means for reciprocation between an operative position obliquely intersecting the path of relative movement of said cam and said cam follower when the latter is in said valve closing position and an inoperative position withdrawn from said path of relative movement of the cam and cam follower, power operated means for moving said cam, and control means for said power operated means mounted for engagement and actuation by a container moving into the filling station.

3. Operating mechanism for a valve movable above a conveyor adapted to move a container into and out of position to receive material from the valve, the valve including an element reciprocable between valve opening and valve closing positions, said mechanism comprising a cam follower carried by the valve for movement therewith according to a predetermined path, a cam mounted for movement into and out of a position obliquely intersecting said path, means for moving said cam into and out of said path, power means for actuating said cam moving means, and control means for said actuating means constructed and arranged for operation in response to movement of a container to said material receiving position.

4. Operating mechanism for a valve movable above a conveyor adapted to move a container into position to receive material from the valve, the valve including a plunger reciprocable between valve opening and valve closing positions, said mechanism comprising a cam follower carried by the valve plunger for moving the plunger to said valve opening position, a cam mounted for movement between a position obliquely intersecting the path in which the cam follower is moved by the valve when the plunger is in said valve closing position to effect movement of the plunger to said valve opening position as the valve moves past the cam and a position removed from said path to permit a valve to pass the cam unaffected by the cam, means for moving said cam to either of said positions of the cam, a source of energy independent of said valve and conveyor, means operatively connecting said energy source to said cam moving means, control means for said connecting means, a container detector mounted for actuation by a container moving into material receiving position, and means operatively connecting said control means to said detector to actuate said cam moving means upon actuation of the detector by a container.

5. In a can filling machine having a conveyor for cans to be filled, a movably mounted tank disposed above the conveyor, a normally closed filling valve communicating with the tank and extending therefrom toward the conveyor, means for moving the tank to advance the filling valve in a direction parallel to the conveyor, and means for retaining a can on the conveyor beneath the filling valve, the combination of fluid actuated means for opening the valve, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said valve opening means, and means operable to actuate said fluid supply means while a can on the conveyor is below the valve.

6. In combination with a can filling machine including a tank, a filling valve communicating with the tank and having a discharge opening directed downward therefrom, operating means for the valve movable from an idle position to an operative position to open the valve, and means for moving a can to be filled to a position below the discharge opening of said filling valve, the improvement which comprises fluid actuated means for moving said valve operating means to said operative position, and means operable to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid actuated means when a can is below the discharge opening of said filling valve.

7. In combination with a can filling machine including a tank, a filling valve communicating with the tank and having a discharge opening directed downward therefrom, operating means for the valve movable from an idle position to an operative position and means for moving a can to be filled to a position below the discharge opening of said filling valve, the improvement which comprises fluid actuated means for moving said valve operating means to said operating position, and means operable by a can moving into position below the discharge opening of the valve to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid actuated means.

8. Operating mechanism for a filling valve carried by a movable tank and including a plunger movable from a valve closing to a valve opening position, said operating mechanism comprising a cam follower carried by the plunger, a cam movably mounted adjacent the path followed by the valve during movement of the tank, fluid actuated means for projecting said cam into the path of said cam follower, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cam moving means.

9. Operating means for a filling valve including a plunger movable from a valve closing position to a valve opening position and arranged above a conveyor adapted to move a can to be filled into receiving position beneath the valve, said operating means comprising means on the plunger providing an abutment movable therewith, movable means arranged for movement optionally to a position of cooperative association with said abutment to effect operation of the plunger or to an idle position of disassociation from the abutment, fluid actuated means for moving said movable abutment engaging means to either of said positions of the same, and means operable in response to movement of a can on the conveyor into position below the valve to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid actuated means to effect movement of said abutment engaging means.

10. Operating mechanism for a filling valve movable in a predetermined path above a can conveyor adapted to move a can to be filled into receiving position below the filling valve, said operating means comprising a cam follower movably carried by and operatively associated with the valve to open the valve upon movement of the follower, a cam, means mounting said cam adjacent said path of the valve and for movement from a non-operative position removed from the path followed by said cam follower upon movement of the valve to an operative position obliquely intersecting said path of the cam follower, fluid operated means operably connected to said cam to move the same to said operating position, and means controlled by a can on the conveyor while being moved thereby into position below the filling valve for supplying fluid under pressure to said cam moving means.

11. Operating mechanism for a valve movable above a conveyor adapted to move a container into receiving position below the valve, said operating means comprising a cam follower carried by and operatively associated with the valve, said cam follower being movable transversely of the path of the valve from a valve closing position to a valve opening position, a bracket mounted adjacent the path of the valve, a cam movably mounted on said bracket, fluid operated means for moving the cam from a non-operative position removed from the path of said cam follower to an operative position projccting into the path of the cam follower, a detector plate movably mounted adjacent said conveyor and yieldably urged into position to be engaged and moved by a can on the conveyor moving into said receiving position, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cam moving means, and means operated by said detector plate for controlling said fluid supplying means.

12. Operating mechanism for a plurality of valves movable in succession in a predetermined horizontal path over a conveyor adapted to move containers into positions to receive material from the valves, each valve including a plunger reciprocable between valve closing and valve opening positions and a cam follower carried by the plunger, said mechanism comprising a bracket mounted adjacent the conveyor, a cam supported from the bracket for reciprocation between an oblique position in the path of the cam followers of the valves and a position withdrawn from said path, an arm carried by said bracket and having a surface merging at one end with the follower-engaging surface of said cam at the end of the cam first encountered by the cam followers, said surface of the arm being oblique to said path of the cam followers in the same general direction as, and at a lesser angle than, the follower engaging surface of the cam, means for moving said cam between said positions thereof, and means actuated by a container moving on the conveyor for controlling said cam moving means.

13. Operating mechanism for a plurality of valves movable in succession in a predetermined horizontal path over a conveyor adapted to move containers into positions to receive material from the valves, each valve including a plunger reciprocable between valve closing and valve opening positions and a cam follower carried by the plunger, said mechanism comprising a bracket mounted adjacent the conveyor, a rock shaft rotatably mounted on said bracket, a cam carried by said rock shaft and movable thereby between a position projecting obliquely into and a position withdrawn from the path of the cam followers of the valves, a crank rigid with and extending radially from said rock shaft, a link rotatable on said shaft and extending radially therefrom, ears on said link disposed on opposite sides of said crank in spaced relation thereto, a stud threadedly engaged with each of said ears and extending therefrom into operative relation with said crank, and reciprocating means for turning said link about the axis of said rock shaft.

14. Operating means for a filling valve having a plunger reciprocable between a valve opening position and a valve closing position comprising a rock shaft, means mounting said rock shaft for reciprocatory rotary movement, valve actuating means carried by said shaft, means for operably connecting said actuating means to said plunger to effect movement of said plunger from one of said positions thereof to the other, a crank rigid with and extending radially from said rock shaft, a link rotatable on said shaft and extending radially therefrom, spaced apart ears on said link disposed on opposite sides of said crank in spaced relation thereto, a stud threadedly engaged with each of said ears and extending therefrom into operative relation with said crank, and means for reciprocating said link in rotary motion about the axis of said rock shaft.

15. Operating mechanism for a filling valve of a container filling machine including means for advancing the valve and a container in fluid receiving relation therewith along a predetermined path through the machine, said mechanism comprising a movable container detector mounted adjacent said path and urged to a position intersecting the same, means mounted adjacent said path and movable from non-operative to operative position for ac mating the valve to effect opening the same at a predetermined zone of travel of the container along said path, fluid operated means for moving said valve actuating means from non-operative to operative position, means communicating with said fluid operated means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, and control means for said fluid supplying means associated with said detector 12 for operation thereby upon actuation of the detector by a container at said predetermined zone of travel along said path to energize said fluid operated means and thereby effect movement of said valve actuating means to said operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

